Oversizing your driver, safe?

I'm interested in the DIY LED game.

Growmau inspired me and has taught me all I need to know it seems. However, there's one thing I haven't seen answered.

For example, say you run a driver with an output of 286v, powering only 3 cxb3590s @36v each which is a total of 108v used. Will the extra voltage damage the cobs? Or will they use what they need and be fine?

The reason I ask is I would like to buy a driver big enough for expansion purposes, but I don't need 5 cxb3590s just yet

The driver I'm looking at buying is the mean well HLG-240- 1400ma

Thanks in advance guys!

Check the datasheet. Voltage on the 1400ma version is 89-179, so yes will work with 3-5 cobs in series.

dmaxcmh said:

I'm interested in the DIY LED game.

Growmau inspired me and has taught me all I need to know it seems. However, there's one thing I haven't seen answered.

For example, say you run a driver with an output of 286v, powering only 3 cxb3590s @36v each which is a total of 108v used. Will the extra voltage damage the cobs? Or will they use what they need and be fine?

The reason I ask is I would like to buy a driver big enough for expansion purposes, but I don't need 5 cxb3590s just yet

The driver I'm looking at buying is the mean well HLG-240- 1400ma

Thanks in advance guys!

Click to expand...

And yes, it is safe for the cobs. When you wire them in series they just take what they need.

take the number of volts driven, in your case 108v, divide by he max volts available in your driver 179v, 108/179 = 0.60 and multiply that by 200 watts = 120 watts is your output. When your drive voltage closest matches your output voltage you will max out the power; watts; of the driver. Under driving your driver gives less than capacity in power but you do not pay less in demand since you are drawing less power you pay less electr4ic cost, but efficiency does go down with less load. Data sheet will explain loading efficiencies for your driver.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone, helpful info for sure.

I'm looking forward to this build. I'll have to poke around the forums some more to see if I want to go in another route. If you guys have links of good cxb journals I'd love to check them out

VegasWinner said:

take the number of volts driven, in your case 108v, divide by he max volts available in your driver 179v, 108/179 = 0.60 and multiply that by 200 watts = 120 watts is your output. When your drive voltage closest matches your output voltage you will max out the power; watts; of the driver. Under driving your driver gives less than capacity in power but you do not pay less in demand since you are drawing less power you pay less electr4ic cost, but efficiency does go down with less load. Data sheet will explain loading efficiencies for your driver.

Click to expand...

I think you meant to use 240? (HLG-240-1400)

prob more accurate to use Watts law though:

watts=voltage x amps ... 108v x 1.4 amps = 151.2w (prob slightly higher with driver overhead, also Meanwell drivers often operate a bit above spec)